| May 13, 2014 | Volume 10 Issue 18 |
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 | Completely Updated New Full Line Catalog:
Full of New Fasteners
Micro Plastics introduces its new 300-page catalog #40 containing thousands of fastening solutions for engineers and product designers. Find hundreds of new problem-solving products, including Spacers, Washers, Clips, Clamps, Ties, Bushings, Screws, Nuts, Rivets, and Plugs. Micro Plastics specializes in Nylon threaded fasteners, but the company also offers extensive product lines for wire management and circuit board hardware. FREE samples are available upon request.
Click here for more information. |
 | Flexibility in more ways than one!
Edge welded metal bellows allow for flexibility in axial, angular and parallel offset motion and provide the most stroke in the smallest amount of space of any bellows technology on the market, by reaching 90% of its free length. BellowsTech can customize size, shape, material, weight, length, and mounting connections to customer specifications.
Click here to learn more. |
| | Feature articles |
 | Metal injection molding (MIM) proving to be crucial element in booming firearms industry
Metal injection molding (MIM) is a popular choice in the flourishing firearms market for producing relatively high precision at a low cost. MIM combines powder metal with a low-melt polymer to create a feedstock that is molded using conventional injection-molding equipment and molds. After molding, the plastic must be removed and the parts sintered. The result is a solid metal part created from powder metal to near net shape at 96 percent density of wrought metal.
Read the full article. |
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 | Injection-molding tips:
Build strength into parts with support features and material selection
Product designers build strength into their injection-molded parts in different ways and for different reasons. You may need parts that can withstand repetitive impact, resist wear, or bear heavy loads. It may be as simple as integrating ribs or gussets into your design, or a more complicated combination of design elements involving support features, material, wall thickness, and more. Finding the proper balance of design considerations will help address your part's need for strength and stability.
Read the full article. |
 | Wheels:
Low-cost, hydrogen-powered forklifts with rapid refueling, zero emissions coming soon
Zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell systems soon could be powering the forklifts used in warehouses and other industrial settings at lower costs and with faster refueling times than ever before, courtesy of a partnership between Sandia National Laboratories and Hawaii Hydrogen Carriers (HHC). The goal of the project is to design a solid-state hydrogen storage system that can refuel at low pressure four to five times faster than it takes to charge a battery-powered forklift.
Read the full article. |
 | Mike Likes:
High-flow vaneaxial fan
A new 20-lb vaneaxial fan designed for high-performance cooling with powerful airflow has been introduced by AMETEK Rotron. The MAXIAX 9.25 fan is driven by a high-speed, aerospace-grade 200-VAC, 3-ph, 400-Hz motor, developing nominal rotational speed of 7,700 rpm. This compact unit (9.25 in. x 8 in.) can develop the necessary pressure to deliver 707-944 L/s [1,500 to 2,000 cfm] against a system impedance of 0.99-1.5 kilo Pascals (kPa) [4 in. to 6 in. of water gauge (iwg)]. It is well suited for applications including centralized forced air electronics cooling in aircraft, forced air delivery in semiconductor processing equipment, air circulation in environmental control systems, and as a heat exchanger cooling fan. It is designed to meet the reliability requirements of military applications and is easily customizable for precise airflow design.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Cutoff devices for boilers and steam generators
Gems Sensors & Controls has introduced a new line of compact, low-water cutoff devices to provide critical protection for boilers and steam generators. The new LWC-700/720/800 Series offers a variety of configurations and functions for application in most water feed vessels. These devices feature redundant switches within the liquid level sensors and electronic controllers to deactivate systems before a water supply problem can damage or create a critical situation. They meet CSD1 requirements and are U.L. Recognized per UL-353 for "Limit Control."
Click here to learn more. |
 | Square-bore mounting collar
A new line of machined square-bore two-piece shaft collars that mount onto square shafts and tubing for attaching a wide range of items has been introduced by Stafford Manufacturing Corp. Stafford Square Bore Mounting Collars are available machined from steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and plastics to fit square shafts and structural tubing from 1/2 in. to 2 in. square. Featuring one or two flats on the O.D. with dual-purpose threaded mounting holes, they can include a variety of mounting options and are suitable for a wide range of applications.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Shaft-protected position sensors
Novotechnik's LWX-002 Series shaft-protected position sensors are designed for extremely harsh environments. The all-metal sensor shaft is protected over its range of motion with an SS304 alloy, 0.9-mm-thick stainless steel shield. The LWX-002 Series has a patented differential pressure compensation system to address the pump effect -- pressure that can build up due to push-rod movement. This feature ensures the sensor series is free from degradation due to pressure buildup that can otherwise occur in rod sensors over time. Key specifications include operation with shock to 50 g and vibration to 20 g, stroke lengths from 50 to 750 mm, linearity to 0.04 percent, life to 50 million operations, and repeatability of 0.01 mm.
Click here to learn more. |
 | Best version of SpaceClaim Engineer yet
SpaceClaim Engineer 2014 offers several new tools that speed and automate common tasks in model pre-processing for manufacturing and simulation. The new version also expands interoperability with new translators and file format compatibilities, including Solid Edge AMF and AutoCAD. With new features like direct drag-and-drop file access from Outlook and new semi-parametric functionality, SpaceClaim Engineer users will find the latest release to be even more intuitive and easier to work with than any previous version. This release also supports Web-hosted, browser-viewable models that anyone can view and interact with using a PC, smartphone, or tablet.
Find out what's new in SpaceClaim 2014. |
| | Most popular last issue |
 | Hitachi 45-mph elevator will be world's fastest
Ready for a 45-mph thrill ride to the 95th floor in 43 seconds? Well, even if you're not, the technology is still on its way. Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Elevator Co. recently announced that they will provide the world's fastest ultra-high-speed elevators to the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, a mixed-use skyscraper currently under construction in Guangzhou, China. The building is slated to open in 2016.
Read the full article. |
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| | Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action | Giant 3D printer makes walls for houses
A private company in Shanghai used four 3D printers to print the walls of 10 little houses in just one day. The cost-effective and environmentally friendly technology lays down a mixture of "construction waste" and cement in patterns that provide air and insulation space within the walls. A pretty nifty concept and a real glimpse into 3D printing capabilities to come.
View the video. |
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Researchers create 50-cent powerful paper microscope
The Foldscope is a fully functional microscope created by Stanford researchers that can be laser- or die-cut from paper for around half a dollar. This bookmark-size tool (originally developed for diagnosing malaria) can be assembled origami-style in minutes, includes no mechanical moving parts, packs flat, is extremely rugged, and can be incinerated after use to safely dispose of infectious biological samples. With minor optics modifications, the microscope can be designed for brightfield, multi-fluorescence, or projection microscopy -- or specialized to identify specific pathogens. Some incredibly clever engineering.
View the video. |
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